Chris Froome: "I'm going to need every second I can get..."

interview10.07.2013Stage 11- Avranches / Mont-Saint-Michel

The only rider able to get ahead of Tony Martin at any time check in stage 11 was Chris Froome. He led at the intermediate marks - only by a matter of one or two seconds - and finished the stage in second place. He's happy...

“I think I started blowing in those last couple of kilometres when I came into the headwind in the final. I just struggled to keep that same momentum going. I think I'm going to need every second that I can get [against my rivals] so I'm really happy with that today. It was one of my best time trials, certainly.

“Tony Martin fully deserves that stage win; he's an amazing time trial rider but my main target today was to try and extend my lead on the other GC rivals so I'm also really happy with my performance today. I think I've got to take it as the way the general classification is, and look at [Alejandro] Valverde as my biggest competitor at the moment. If last weekend is anything to go by, I think I'm going to need every second I can get at this stage.

“Morale is great within the team and it's great to see Richie [Porte] doing alright today, that's him just saying, ‘Listen guys, I'm not out of this race – I'm still here and I'm still right at the front!'

“Tony did a fantastic ride to win the stage and show why he's the world champion but I'm really happy with my time and having extended my lead on the general classification. It's still a long way to go but I'm happy with the advantage that I've got at the moment.”